More than two years into development, the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program—a cornerstone for Army modernization—is entering a critical phase as the program keeps pace with changing Army needs and key technologies come online. In some cases, mature technologies will be integrated into the current force earlier than originally planned, beginning in 2008.

This first “spin out” or early delivery of incremental capability of FCS technologies into the current force, is garnering significant attention from program supporters and skeptics alike who are looking to the initial technology infusion as a barometer for future spin outs and gauge for the long-term success of the program.

Technology spin outs—four in all, implemented in two-year cycles—will improve the current force through early delivery of selected FCS capabilities. The challenge lies in taking capabilities being developed for the FCS-equipped Unit of Action, or brigade-sized combat team, that are intended to operate as an integrated whole, and modifying them to operate within the current force structure.

This issue and countless others are being addressed by Boeing employee Val Bring, program manager, FCS Spin Outs, Production and Fielding, her government co-lead, Col. Russ Hrdy, and a virtual team of 15 dedicated program managers, planners and engineers. Together with the Army, the team is tasked with leading the effort to ensure that Spin Out One and subsequent technology Spin Outs are successful.

“The Spin Out strategy struck a chord with the Army, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Congress because it is a win all around,” said Hrdy, program director, Spin Out Development, U.S. Army. “The warfighter gets future capability much earlier than planned, and the FCS program has another tool to ensure this complex program will work when delivered.”

Operating as an extension to the FCS program management team, Bring and her team coordinate with each of the relevant Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) on technology maturation and delivery status, trying to strike a delicate balance in ensuring schedules are prioritized accordingly and capabilities are ready to Spin Out at the right time. Technologies slated for early fielding as part of Spin Out One include Unattended Ground Sensors; two unattended munitions including the Non-Line of Sight – Launch System and Intelligent Munitions System; as well as portions of the network.

“A lot of what we’re doing is really working through the integration and modification details,” Bring said. “The FCS IPTs are really doing the heavy lifting.”

Another challenge is in meeting the aggressive schedule set by the Army. Bring explained that the plan is to start integrating key capabilities into the Army’s Experimental Brigade Combat Team (EBCT) by 2008 for initial user testing, although preliminary experimentation will begin in 2006.

Technologies will be delivered to the EBCT where soldiers will conduct user-testing of equipment in a real-life environment and provide continuous operational feedback directly to the program so adjustments and improvements can be made as needed.

“Spin Outs feed the iteration process that we’ve now put in place for this integrated design as there are now well-defined delivery points…and we’ll have key opportunities to learn along the way,” Bring said. “This truly is risk reduction for the FCS program. We’re going to practice with these capabilities, we’re going to learn things about how specific capabilities work and how they will be integrated into this new modular force, and we’re going to obtain feedback starting in 2006 as opposed to 2012.”

The journey ahead for Bring and team promises to be challenging yet exhilarating, but when the end result means that a soldier’s life might be saved, they wouldn’t have it any other way.